Combined stock and sample show-case



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1..

' W. P. VROOMAN. COMBINED STOCK AND SAMPLE SHOW CASE.

No; 331,171. Patented Nov. 24,1885.

W1. Eases. 1112-111 N PETERS, Fholo-Lflhngraphur, Washington, D C.

in) Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2. W. RYE-DOMAIN.

COMBINED STOGK AND SAMPLE SHOW CASE. NO. 331 ,171.

Patented Nqv. 24. 1885.

" UNITED STATES PATENT Orrron.

WILLIAM P. VROOMAN, OF JOHNSTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH i R.TORREY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINED STOCK AND SAMPLE SHOW-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,171, dated November24, 1885.

. Application filed April 24, 1885.

To all whom it'may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. VROOMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at J ohnstown, in the county of Fulton and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Stock andSample Show-Gases, of which the following is aspecification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide a showcase of such constructionthat it is adapted to exhibit samples of cutlery or other small articlesto good advantage, while it is at the same time so constructed as tohold a considerable amount of stock of the articles like the samplesshown, the stock being conveniently accessible to the salesman withoutdisturbing the samples.

My improved show-case has a glass front and a sliding or hinged doorbehind, like many other show-cases now in use. I provide the ends andpartitions of the case with supports -(which are preferably grooves) fortrays or shelves, which latter preferably slide easilyin or on thesupports, so as to be readily removable therefrom. The front ends of thetrays or shelves are provided with means for retaining the samples,behind which the stock corresponding to the samples is stored. Thepurchasers can see the samples through the glass front of the case, andthe salesman can readily get at the stock from behind by opening thedoor without removing the samples from the shelves or trays, and thusthe trouble of replacing the samples or danger of losing their tags, ifsuch be attached, is entirely obviated, while a considerable amount ofstock advantageously represented by samples and conveniently arrangedfor ready access may be kept in a comparatively small space.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front view of a show-caseembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same with the dooropened. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 3 3, Fig. 1, and Fig. 4: is alongitudinal section.

A indicates the bottom of the case, and B the ends thereof, and if thecase is to contain more than one series of shelves or trays 0 one SerialNo. 163,332. (No model.)

or more partitions, B, corresponding in shape 0 to the end pieces of thecase,wil1 be provided. In the present instance two tiers or series oftrays are shown, requiring one partition, B. The end pieces,'B, and thepartitions B are preferably adapted to support the trays or V shelves 0by being provided with a series of grooves, 1), into which the edges ofthe latter project; but instead of these grooves it is obvious thatstrips or ribs as I), attached to the end pieces and partitions, may beemployed for the same purpose. The front ends of the trays are providedwith means for holding the samples in place, preferably by beingconstructed with compartments formed by small partitions c, to which thesamples may be at tached by wire loops d, or by spring clips or loops 6,or a small holding-rib, as f, at the extreme front end of the tray,willbe suflicient to retain the sample in place.

While it is not necessary that the trays or shelves should be removablewhen the space between them is sufiicient to admit of easy access to thestock held thereby, it is deemed preferable that these receptacles forthe stock should slide freely in or on their supports, as access to thestock is thereby facilitated; or the trays may be removed altogether thebetter to exhibit the goods to the purchaser. The-stock-receptacles maybe simple shelves, or they may be provided with edge projec- 8o tions orribs, as c, to form trays; or they may be made like ordinary drawerswith lips or ledges at their forward ends to hold the sampleS.

I prefer to make the fronts of my show and stock cases slanting, asshown in the drawings, the better to exhibit the samples and to formtrays of different sizes, and thus adapt the lower trays forholdinglarger articles or more stock than the upper ones; but I do not wish to0 be understood as limiting my invention to this form of the case. Theglass D in the front of the case may be retained in place in the usualor any well-known manner, as by strips a,having overhanging lips, orotherwise.

The back of my case is open, and is closed by a door or doors, as E,which may swing or slide horizontally or vertically.

The glass front of the case is preferably-provided with numbers,letters, or other reference-characters corresponding to similarcharacters on the rear ends of the shelves or trays, so that the latterwhen removed may always be readily replaced in their proper positions.

When constructed in the manner above described, it is obvious that mycase is adapted to hold considerable amount of readily accessible stockin a comparatively small space, and to exhibit samples of the sameadvantageously. The display-samples need never be handled or soiled; butmay remain undisturbed in their compartments until the entire stock isdisposed of. I

My invention is more particularly for knives and other small articles ofcutlery; but may be used for a large variety of other articles,

I am aware that it is not new to provide a showcase having a transparentfront with a series of removable stock-exhibiting shelves, and a doorbehind which closes the rear of the case and permits of access to thesaid shelves, this construction being shown by Patent No. 242,657, to B.Kohu, and dated June V7, 1881. I do not therefore wish to be understQQdas claiming the construction above men: tioned on which my invention isan improvement.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent-'- 1. The combination, with a show-case having atransparent front and a door behind, by a which its otherwise openrearporti'on is closed, of a series of stock-receptacles accessible frombehind and provided at their front ends with sample-holding devices,substantially, as set forth.

2. The combination, with a show-case having a transparent front and adoor behind, by which its otherwise open rear is closed, of a series ofsliding or removable stock-receptacles provided with sample-holdingdevices at their front ends, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a show-case having a slanting or inclinedtransparent front and a door behind, by which its otherwise open rear isclosed, of a series of sliding or removable stock-receptacles havingspaces or compartments at their front ends for holding samplescorresponding to the stock behind them, substantially as set forth.

4, The combination, witha show-ease hay.-

ing a transparent front provided with a series .7,

f n m s r t er re r n eharac s, of a series of removablestock-receptacles provided t their r n d h amp e-ho ding d vices and attheir rear ends with reference-, char:

acters corresponding with those on the said transparent front,substantially as set forth, In t s mo y Wh q af my gnature presence oftwo'witnesses. WILL M I; R OMAN, Witnesses:

I JOHN O. EHLE, L. D. PUTNAM.

